Game apparatus



Sept. 17, 1940. M Q REGAN 2,215,054

GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 17, 1940.

- M. c. REGAN GAME APPARATUS Filed Spt. 29; 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 2 m x MICHAEL CHARLES REEAN p 17. 1940. M. c. REGAN GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 MICHAEL CHARLES REGAN Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 19 Claims.

My invention, which relates to game apparatus of the oscillating or spinning type,-has for its object to provide means by which the spinning or oscillating element may be spun at a high rate of speed (200 to 300 R. P. M.) with very little effort on the part of the operator, and the spinning continued for a relatively long period after the operator stops operating the oscillating or spinning means.

Further, it is an object to provide a game apparatus of wide utility, one that can be used in playing dice, card games, Fortune, Bingo, colored ball games, with dancing manikins, acrobats, and in window displays, miniature airplanes, slot machines, etc.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which Will be first fully described in the following detailed description, and then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking from right to left *30 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. l, of another embodiment, parts being broken away.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a further modification, showing a different type of vibration producer.

35 Fig. 5 is a front elevation of still another modification.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an elevation and part section of a still "40 further modification, in which the rotating ele- 50 Fig. 12 is a section and elevation of a further modification.

Fig. 13 is a detail section on the line l3.-l3 of Fig. 12.

In the drawings, in which I have illustrated several embodiments of my invention, and in which like numbers of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred form, which will be first described.

By reference to these figures it will be seen that upon a suitable base I (a suction cup, if de- 5 sired, for attaching to a table, desk, or other fixed body) is clamped, or otherwise secured, at 2, the lower end 3 of the lower upright part 4 of the Y vibrator.

The vibrator is preferably formed of resilient 10 wire or rod and includes the closely wound spiral 5, forming a bearing for the operating crank shaft I3, the lower horizontal portion 6, the open coil 1 (for spring purposes), the upper horizontal portion 8 having the offset 9, the upper 15 vertical portion Ill, and the cross arm II with its outer stop or stops l2.

The crank shaft l3 carries a ratchet wheel [4 with the teeth of which the offset 9 engages, the crank having a handle l5 by which it may be turned. Upon turning the crank a rapid up and down motion is given to the vibrator portions 9 and In, which causes the axis of the cross arm l l to move up and down and also along a radius having its center at about the coil 7. The purpose of this combined motion will be clear later.

The spinner may assume a variety of forms, according to my invention, depending on the purpose for which it is used. In playing games which use dice or spinners, the form shown in Fig. 1 is preferred. In this figure l6 designates a disc, of any suitable material, in which are embedded or on which are mounted dice or number indicia elements 19, and/or differently colored balls 20, according to the game to be played.

Centrally the disc is apertured, the edge of the disc at the aperture being provided with grooves or slots (one for each dice, ball or number indicia), thereby giving a corrugated or wavy edge ll. This edge may be formed in the disc itself (Figs. 3 and 4) or a reinforcing element or eye l8 may be used, in which element [3 the corrugations are formed, (see Fig. 11).

Of course the opening in the disc is large enough to pass the stops I?! in placing or removing the disc from the cross arm ll. One or more discs 16 may be employed on a single vibrator.

Upon turning the crank and imparting the combined movement to the cross arm ll, heretofore described, the disc I6 is given such motion as will cause it to spin about its axis at a relatively high rate of speed, the degree of which will of course-in a measure at least-depend upon the speed with which the crank is turned.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modification of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this figure those parts which correspond to similar parts in Figs. 1 and 2 bear the same reference number plus the index letter a, so a detailed descripton of those parts would be but a repetition and is therefore thought to be unnecessary. In the form shown in Fig. 3 the crank shaft Id is journaled in a bulbous enlargement 22 of a handle and base member 2|. The wire Ell passes into the chamber of the enlargement 22 where it is given an open coil turn li about the axis of the shaft, and has its end 3 suitably anchored in the neck-plug M of the handle. The operation of this form is essentially the same as that of Fig. 1 and need not be repeated here.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated a modification of the vibrator structure. In this figure those parts which correspond to similar or like parts in Figs.

l and 2 bear the same reference number plus the index letter b, and need not be further described here.

The lower horizontal component 23 of the vibrator is corrugated or wavy and its lower end is secured to the support l rigidly in any suitable way. By running a stick or pencil back and forth over the corrugations 23 suitable vibration is imparted to the upright Ni and cross arm ll to effect the spinning of the discs W as before.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modification in which a wavy vibrator rod 25 is securely fastened at one end to a support 2d and has secured to it at intervals a number of uprights 26 having cross arms 27 at the top on which discs, in the form of star-wheels 30, are respectively located. One of the uprightssay the middle one-has a second cross arm 28 on which a major starwheel 3| is located. The star-wheels each have one point colored alike, as at 32, or provided in some other way with a distinctive indicia. This form of the invention is used in playing a certain game in which the number of minor starpoints 32, which assume the same position as point 32 of the major star-wheel 3|, determines the winner. It should be understood that the number of corrugations in the openings of the respective star-wheels corresponds to the number of the points of the star-wheels. The operation of this form is similar to that of Fig. 4, i. e., the star-wheels are set in rotation by drawing a stick or pencil sidewise over the corrugations 25.

Referring now to Figs. '7 and 8, one will see another modification in which the indicia disc is stationary and located in a horizontal instead of a vertical plane, and in which a pointer rotates about the axis of the upper vertical portion lfl of the vibrator.

In this form, also, the ratchet wheel M has a wavy periphery and the upper horizontal component 8 of the vibrator has a single loop 33 to engage the wheel M it also is corrugated at 34 so that by passing a stick or pencil over the corrugations 34 (as over 23 in Fig. 4) the element ill will be reciprocated up and down as before, thereby imparting an up and down Inotion to the arrow 36. As the arrow 36 is pro vided with a corrugated or grooved cone 3'! at its mid-length, which cooperates with a like cone 35 fixed to the member W beneath the arrow, when member W is vibrated arrow 36 will spin in a horizontal plane. In this embodiment of the invention the indicia plate or disc 38 is immovably mounted on suitable supports and carries the desired indicia 39.

Instead of the indicia disc being stationary and the arrow rotating, these may be reversed, as it were, and the arrow held against rotation while the disc rotates. This is illustrated in Fig. 9 in which 40 is the arrow fixed to rod Hi A corrugated cone 63 is fixed to the rod beneath the arrow and a similar apertured cone i2 is fixed to the indicia disc 4|, which is located above cone 33 and below arrow 49.

Fig. 10 indicates diagrammatically an arrangement which may be used as a manikin or dancing doll, etc., toy or window display. In this form the rod w is reciprocated as before and carries a corugated cone 43 to cooperate With the open corrugated cone 42' on the spinner $4 from which at'regular intervals (for balance) figures (rigid or articulated) are suspended (over a suitably supported platform 45).

As my invention is useful in many ways and. is not limited in use in the playing-of games, it is thought unnecessary to describe in detail the way it may be used in playing games, as that will be obvious after reading the foregoing description and examining the accompanying drawings.

In Figs. 12 and 13 is shown a slot machine arrangement by reference to which it will be seen the spinner or rotor lt is mounted on the cross arm as in the first embodiment Fig. l. The rod IN is offset as at 8 and projects through a slot to in a casing 38 where it divides into two parallel wires '36 having inwardly projecting nodes or projections 47, those of one wire 4% being staggered with respect to those of the other, the casing 48 being provided with a slot 50 through which the coin C is admitted.

The falling coin C dropping alternately against the projections 41 serves to vibrate the wires 46 and thereby the wire lfi to cause the spinner [6 to operate.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of the generic invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other modification or variations will occur which will fall within the scope of the invention and the appended claims.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation and uses of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a spinner having a central aperture of a corrugated outline, and a vibrator having an arm passing through said aperture and on which said spinner is rotatably mounted.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a spinner having a central aperture of a corrugated outline, and a vibrator having an arm passing through said aperture and on which said spinner is rotatably mounted, the diameter of the circle touched by the innermost projections of the corrugations being greater than the diameter of said arm.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a spinner having a central aperture of a. wavy outline, and a vibrator having an arm passing through said aperture and on which said spinner is rotatably mounted said spinner having suitable indicia located on its face symmetrically about its axis, and said corrugated outline being formed with one corrugation for each indicia- 4. In apparatus of the class described, a spinner comprising a body having a central hole of corrugated outline, and a set of radially disposed indicia located on said body, one for each corrugation, combined with a vibrator having a portion projecting through said hole and including means to impart back and forth motion to said portion in a direction transverse to its axis.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a spinner comprising a body having a central hole of corrugated outline, and a set of radially disposed indicia located on said body, one for each corrugation.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a spin ner comprising a body having a central hole, and a reinforcing disc in said hole, said disc itself being apertured with an aperture having a corrugated outline.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a spinner comprising a body having a central hole, and a reinforcing disc in said hole, said disc itself being apertured with an aperture having a corrugated outline, said spinner having suitable indicia located on said body at spaced intervals about its axis.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a spinner comprising a body having a central hole, and a reinforcing disc in said hole, said disc itself being apertured with an aperture having a corner comprising a body having a central hole, a

reinforcing disc in said hole, said disc itself being apertured with an aperture having a corrugated outline, an arm projecting through the aperture of corrugated outline, and means to impart back and forth motion to said arm in a direction transverse to its axis.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a spinner comprising a body having a central hole, a reinforcing disc in said hole, said disc itself being apertured with an aperture having a corrugated outline, said spinner having suitable indicia located on said body at spaced. intervals about its axis, an arm projecting through the aperture of corrugated outline, and means to impart back and forth motion to said arm in a direction trans- Verse to its axis.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a spinner comprising a body having a central hole, a.

reinforcing disc in said hole, said disc itself being apertured with an aperture having a corrugated outline, said spinner having suitable indicia located on said body at spaced intervals about its axis, there being one corrugation to each indicia, an arm projecting through the aperture of corrugated outline,'and means to impart back and forth motion to said arm in a direction transverse to its axis.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a spinner comprising a body having a central hole of corrugated outline, and a set of radially disposed indicia located on said body, one for each corrugation, combined with avibrator having a portion projecting through said hole and including means to impart back andforth motion to said portion in a direction transverse to its axis, said motion-imparting means comprising a resiliently mounted rod, a ratchet-wheel engaging a portion of said rod, and means to turn said wheel to vibrate the rod through said Wheel-engaging portion.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a spinner comprising a body having a central hole of corrugated outline, and a set of radially disposed indicia located on said body, one for each corrugation, combined with a vibrator having a portion projecting through said hole and including means to impart back and forth motion to said portion in a direction transverse to its axis, said motion-imparting means comprising a resiliently mounted rod having a corrugated portion of suitable length for engagement by a rod moved by an operator crosswise along the corrugations of the rod.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vertically reciprocable rod, of a spinner and means to mount it on the rod, said spinner having a corrugated central opening and said rod having a portion projected through said opening for purposes described.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vertically reciprocable rod, of a spinner and means to mount it on the rod, said spinner having a corrugated central opening and said rod having a portion projected through said opening, said spinner being disposed for rotation in a vertical plane.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vertically reciprocable rod, of a spinner and means to mount it on the rod, said spinner having a corrugated central opening and said rod having a portion projected through said opening, said spinner being disposed for rotation in ahorizontal plane.

17. In apparatus of the class described, a base, a resilient wire secured at one end to said base and comprising a lower upright part, a lower horizontal part, a coiled-bearing part at the juncture of the lower upright and lower horizontal parts, an upper horizontal part, va springy loop joining the horizontal parts together, an upper upright portion, a crank-shaft journaled in said coiled-bearing part, a ratchet-Wheel on said crank-shaft, said upper horizontal part having a portion for engaging the periphery of said wheel, and a spinner mounted on said upper upright portion, said spinner having provision to cause it to spin upon vibrating said vibrator by turning said crank.

18. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vertically reciprocable rod, of a spinner and means to mount it on the rod, said spinner having a corrugated central opening and said rod having a portion projected through said opening, said spinner being disposed for rotation in a horizontal plane, said spinner comprising an arrow, and an indicia plate beneath the arrow held against rotation.

19. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vertically reciprocable rod, of a spinner and means to mount it on the rod, said spinner having a corrugated central opening and said rod having a portion projected through said opening, said spinner being disposed for rotation in a horizontal plane, said spinner comprising a rotatable indicia disc, and a non-rotatable arrow held over the dsc.

MICHAEL CHARLES REGAN. 

